Description

The RATP Test & Measurement Laboratory (LEM) at Boissy Saint Léger in the Paris suburbs boasts more than 40 years of experience and can offer its skills and services to all urban public transport players.

Workforce

70 engineers and technicians specialising in urban transport networks.

Principal resources

The laboratory has more than 5,000 measuring devices and a wide range of data processing software. These resources are divided across three units with specific yet complementary roles:

• Mechanical engineering unit, which is responsible for tests and studies into railway dynamics, interaction between infrastructure and rolling stock, acoustics and vibration effects, fatigue behaviour of equipment, etc.
• Electrical engineering unit, which is responsible for measurements in the railway environment and on rolling stock, impact studies and measurements relating to electromagnetic compatibility and stray currents, qualification of electrical equipment and insulating materials, etc.
• Physics/Chemistry Unit, which is responsible for studies and tests into the fire behaviour of materials in relation to the various French and European standards, qualification of cover materials, quality of the workplace environment, etc.

Key strengths

• Video tests and tests of all types to identify interface characteristics (track/rolling stock, pantograph/overhead contact line) and studies into optimisation of maintenance operations.
• Expert assessments and technical assistance on behalf of legal advisors or experts
• Support for Project Managers on behalf of Organising Authorities.
• Characterisation of environmental factors relative to health, safety, passenger, local resident and staff comfort.
• Fire behaviour tests on materials in accordance with CEN TS 45545.

Accreditations

LEM has ISO 9001 certification and ISO 17025 accreditation (accreditation No. 1-1523 consultable at www.cofrac.fr)

To download the full list of the accreditations held by LEM click here